Signal translation apparatus utilizing dispersive networks and the like, e.g. for panoramic reception, amplitude-controlling frequency response, signal frequency gating,frequency-time domain conversion, etc.



H. Hamlin MAM;

p 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREQUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

Filed Aug. 7. 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 l6 2 1 I- F. Dispersive +M'xer "Amp. L Network (l4 H Swee Frequency I Gm h l9 2| 3 l8 Sw'tc CR3. g Synchronizing Pre-Selecfor I Generator Q Detector Dlspluy l4 Swe ep Frequency 1 Gen.

I-F. Dispersive j' Amp. H Net work 23 22) Input 3 Delay Line 1 l 24 24R, I

I 25' Output INVENTOR. BY Warren D. WhIre JTTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1960 w. 0. WHITE 2,954,465

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, I. FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREQUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC. Filed Aug. 7. 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q FIG.

l2 I.-F. DISPERSIVE M AMP. NETWORK j H To BLANKING PULSE GEN.

l4 FR Q EEFICY l5 8 C l9) 2! GEN. 1

gg'ggm 'g 7 DETECTOR- DISPLAY swEEP l FREQUENCY GEN.

TO BLANKING PULSE GEN.

DISPERSIVE MIXER 1.5 AMP. NETWORK 2 I2 I6 I? L-F DISPERSIVE M'XER AMP. NETWORK 140 BLANKING j PULSE GEN. (l4 w P FRE o uENcYL EQ' T I9 2| ggfifig? DtltClUn DISPLAY SWEEP FREQUENCY I GEN. f

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DISPERSIVE m NETWORK l6 M INVENTOR Warren D. Whi're ATTORNEYS p 27, 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREEUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY cums FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

Filed Aug. 7, 1958 13 sheets sheet 3 2a FIG. 2

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I I-F. Bond I 35/ I 132. I H82) 1k 3 -T2 T2- #F3 Time \ 1. 4s 28] 45 2a-, i 45 29 1 I, i V

I R-F.Bund I i -sm g g 41 1- 1 4: 5| 52 5| 52 5| 62 u. X )x K I I 49 fig/ l I FBcnd d 49 I k I r Time INVENTOR. 0 en D. Whiwe 5O 5o FIGLBQ BY W rr 1 ATTORNEYS r 9b.; 50' 50 so Time 77, a v Z w. D. WHITE 2,954,465 SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING Sept. 27, 1960 FEB NCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 7, 1958 FIG. 4

FIG.5

' A I-F Band I Channel 1 7 w Time 4 I-F Bond Channel 2 i-plsv INVENTOR.

BY Warren D. White ATTORNgi Sept 27, 1960 W. D. W l

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTIL E Z N G DISPERSIVE THE LIKELL FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREQUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING F l-d A FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

1 0 ug. 7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet -5 FIG.6

H Sweep Frequency 53 Gen.

5 A Pre-S elector Symhmmzmg Dispers've ,Detector Display Generator Amp. Network Sweep I Frequency Gen.

- Delay Line l2 l6 l? 55 f 56 57 It Gain Inverse I- F. Dlsperswe Controlled -D|spers|ve Mlxer Mlxer Netwmk Amp. Network Sweep v l A Frequency Gen. g 7?) 1' j Control In Synchronizing Wave I? Generator 7 2: Generator 59 l l4 Sweep I 1 Frequency Gen.

11' 5? ,-l6 I Gum Inverse A W I- F. f Controlled Dispersive Mixer Amp. Amp. Network 1 l2' V Delay Li e I I) 58 INVENTOR.

BY Warren D. White ATTORNEYS Frequency Sept. 27, 1960 w. D. WHI'.'E 2,9 4

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKELA FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FRE NCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC. Filed Aug. 7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 z I I I 28 451. 28 45 1 I I m es, 1 Inpui 7 Z Output 7 Siqruls k Sigguls 1 I-F Bunciwidths I 1 2 T so w 3 2 E (a) l 86 Frequency- Frequency .2

:3 r r 1 8| 83 I 35 k (b) 5 9 84 i 1 u Time g I T 83' 5' Frequency-' o INVENTOR. (C) i BY WGH'GI'I D. 3 ea 84 E zflTTORZVEYS Frequency-L cz 2 2 W Sept. 27, 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREQUENCY Response, SIGNAL FREQUENCY cums FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

Filed Aug. 7. 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. ll- 58 57 Mixer 1 l4) Sweep Freruency I v 55 56 f l6 I? i 1 '5) Gain Inverse out n Presynchmmlmg I-F Dispefslve Controlled ,Dispersive w I I Se cl Generator Amp. Network Network F Sweep I V requency Control 77 Wave J Generalor Mixer 57 FIG. l2

|2 is n r f 51 I l Gain Inverse In Mixer g 25 52:? Conlrolled Disperslve Mixer 6| n- Network 59 Sweep fg f g gg '1 Control 77 Frequency I ycircu" Wave Gen. Generator 1 INVENTOR. y Warren D. White ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,455

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKELL. FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FRES UENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC. Filed Aug. 7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. l3

Output Signals lss I693,

l I 1 GI I6l' t z L I Input l Output T 253 Signals L430 Signals -T52 T -ws' T 0 I I g d $3, I I I 7 1', 1". N75) Z ""1 .1 A Bond 41" "Z 1" "I" ('A' I I (we t s (Q- BI \IBI rn I75 I60 I80 7 I79 I64" I72 INVENTOR. L- BY Warren D. White ATTORIVEYS Filed Aug. 7. 1958 1" 5 Synchronizing Generoior ept 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465'

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKELL. FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREKUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN couvsasron, ETC.

l3 Sheets-Sheet -9 FIGH Inverse I-F. Dispersiv Dis ersive m Amp Network m N eiwork Sweep Sweep Freguency Frequency ,f an.

Gen. I84

6| Out Sweep I Freq Gen.

Sweep M Frequency Gen.

Inverse I-F. Disperslve Di ersive Mixer igg Amp. Network Ngtwork Amplitude T FIG. l6 b j; +15

Min xii i Frequency INVENTOR- BY Warren D. White ATTORNEYS @WMWW Sept. 27, 1960 SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATU THE LIKE,

WHITE 5 UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FRE UENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

Filed Aug. 7, 1958 FIG.|7

l3 Sheets-Sheet 1O 58 Delay Line J l2 l6 l7 55 56 57 Gain Inverse I-F. Dlspersrve e sive Mixer m Amp. Nerwork g gg fig l4 k Sweep Freqgency Switch lch 9| 92 T B 1' 2"". i the. 0'

r". u Video ,w I Synchromzmg 7 'De'ecior M Sweep h Frequency Gen.

I I l6 I 5% 56 V Gain Inverse D'spe'swe Controlled Dispersive Mixer Mixer p- Network Amp. Network F Delay Line I J- 7 5s FIG.I8\ ,3. as

i s A 9. FIG. I70

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Frequency T INVENTOR.

93 BY Warren 0 WhIre ATTORNEYS Frequency m 24%.. 43......

Sept. 27, 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465

SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DIsPERSIvE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREgUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, E'rc.

' 58 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 Delay Line Filed Aug. 7, 1958 FIG. l9

ll Y

Sweep F e uenc 56 53 lie mi l6 l7) r l r Gain Inverse Symhmnizi Controlled Dispersive Selector P- Amp. Network 59 Video Integrator (27 R-F Bond '1 a O E I I g x a 0 I4 r45 32 I44 I45 I52 I T g I-F Band 7 J INVENTOR. Tune BY Warren D. WhIte ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1960 w. D. WHITE 2,954,465

szcxm TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE,.&. FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREZUENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

l3 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Aug. 7, 1958 se r. 27, 1960 W. D. WHITE SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE,.0.

FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE-CONTROLLING FREfiiENCY RESPONSE, SIGNAL FREQUENCY GATING Filed Aug. 7, 1958 FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSION, ETC.

1s Sheets-Sheet 1's 7 n2 n2 n4 F|G.2i

1 n3 us as 69 7| 10 a 'i 69'r ,7i' 5 e l u o 51/ i/ n a i i i 11' 1o (74 Time 0 D FIG. 22 m O. r 2 r n Time Sweep 856 Frequency is I! 95 5? Gen. 1 F Diepersive Inverse h Network Gate Dispersive sweep Network aFrequency y Gen. Sweep Frequency Gen. i

98 Narrow s c Band wee n Synchronizing P y Receiver 09 4 And Ga" G t P lses 4 ae u Generator 7 Display L F (103 i INVENTOR.

BY warren D. White ATTORNEYS SIGNAL TRANSLATION APPARATUS UTILIZING DISPERSIVE NETWORKS AND THE LIKE, E.G. FOR PANORAMIC RECEPTION, AMPLITUDE- CONTRQLLING FREQUENCY RESPONSE, SIG- NAL FREQUENCY GATING, FREQUENCY-TIME DOMAIN CONVERSIGN, ETC.

Warren D. White, East Norwich, N.Y., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 753,698

66 Claims. (Cl. 250-20) This invention relates broadly to signal translation devices employing sweep frequency heterodyne circuits, and particularly to such circuits which are capable of receiving a number of different frequencies simultaneously and yet give adequate resolution therebetween. In one aspect, the invention is directed to radio monitoring receivers of the panoramic type capable of continuous coverage of a wide signal band, and yet displaying signals within that band separately according to their frequency. In another aspect, the invention is directed to circuits analogous to filters, in which the frequency response can be amplitude-controlled in the time domain. A monitoring receiver of special characteristics in which both aspects of the invention are combined in also provided. Many features of the invention, although particularly useful in connection with the foregoing, are capable of other applications.

In my copending application Serial No. 710,210, filed January 21, 1958, for Electronic Circuits, now Patent No. 2,882,395, there is described, among other things, the use of a dispersive network in a panoramic receiver of the superheterodyne type so that the sweep rate can be greatly increased while preserving the same resolution or, conversely, so that the resolution can be increased while preserving the same sweep rate, etc. For a linear sweep with fast retrace, the sweep rate is approximately the product of the sweep frequency range and the sweep repetition frequency. When the invention of that application is employed to increase the sweep repetition frequency, there is less likelihood of missing brief transmissions. However, there is always the possibility that trasmissions will be so brief, or of such a character, as to be overlooked due to the time gaps in the reception of a signal of given frequency.

In my copending application Serial No. 805,991, filed April 13, 1959, for Electronic Circuits, an improved panoramic superheterodyne receiver is described capable of approaching continuous coverage of an R.-F. signal band while yielding adequate resolution between different R.-F. signals. In accordance with that improvement, if the bandwidths of the L-F. channel and dispersive network are made at least equal to the sum of the sweep frequency range of the local oscillator and the desired R.-F. acceptance band, and the sweep frequency retrace time is negligible, substantially continuous coverage can be obtained. In some cases it may be difiicult to make the retrace time negligible, and in such cases time gaps in the reception of a given signal may result. Also, for some applications components of sufficient bandwidth may be difficult or expensive to produce.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a receiver is provided capable of continuous cover age of a signal band with adequate resolution, but in which the bandwidth and retrace speed requirements are considerably less stringent. Broadly, input signals of different frequencies are converted into respective interlaced sets of frequency variations spaced in time in acice cordance with the input signal frequencies. That is, each input signal is converted into a set of interlaced frequency variations, and the sets corresponding to input signals of different frequencies are spaced in time depending on the input frequencies. The frequency variations are then converted into corresponding signals of substantially shorter time durations respectively. Thus the short signals corresponding to different input signals are spaced in the time domain, and those corresponding to an input signal of given frequency recur at the interlaced frequency. As described hereinafter in connection with specific embodiments, a plurality of signal channels and a corresponding plurality of interlaced sweep frequencies may be employed, with one or more dispersive networks.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, circuits analogous to filters are provided which have substantial advantages over arrangements heretofore known. Broadly, input signals of different frequencies are converted into corresponding signal pulses spaced in time in accordance with the respective input frequencies, the signal pulses altered while in the time domain, and the altered pulses converted into corresponding signals whose frequency corresponds to the time occurrence of the pulses.

In the specific embodiments described hereinafter, dispersive networks are used in converting signals from frequency to time domains, and inverse dispersive networks in converting from time to frequency domains. Then, by suitably operating on the signals while they domain may be obtained.

Such arrangements are capable of many applications.

For example, it may be desired to have a bandpass filter whose frequency response may be varied quickly in any desired manner. With heretofore known apparatus, changes in bandpass characteristics are possible only to a limited degree, and all but the simplest changes require fairly elaborate apparatus. Even then, changing the bandpass characteristic quickly is often difiicult, if not impossible.

On the other hand, generators of waveforms whose amplitude varies with time in almost any desired manner are now well-known. For example, the generation of sine waves, sawtooth waves, triangular waves, pulse waves, etc. is well-known, and by suitable combinations of such waves many different forms of control waves are possible.

In accordance with the present invention such wellknown waveforms can be used to produce corresponding variations in the frequency response of a signal translation system.

In the apparatus for controlling frequency response it is preferred to employ the interlaced feature of the invention, since this enables obtaining signals in the time domain representing continuous coverage of input signals in the frequency domain, so that no essential signal information is lost. However, the wide band arrangement of my application Serial No. 805,991 may also be employed if desired, particularly where the time gaps due to finite frequency retrace times do not seriously affect operation. Also, for some applications it may sufiice to employ relatively narrow bands and high sweep repetition frequencies so that the output signals are, in effect, repetitive samples of the corresponding input signals.

The present invention also contemplates a receiver providing substantially continuous coverage of a signal band, in which a frequency response control circuit is incorporated and controlled by the received signals. Thus, the shape of the receiver passband may be adjusted automatically to match the shape of the signal spectrum or, conversely, may be adjusted to reject signals of a persistent nature, thus making new signals more readily discernible. Or, a gating signal may be employed so as to pick out any particular signal for analysis, without in any way impairing the ability of the receiver to respond to other signals in the band for which it is designed.

Further features of the invention will in part be pointed out in the following description of specific embodiments thereof, and in part will be apparent therefrom.

Although many features of the invention are especially directed to radio monitoring receivers, they are also applicable to other apparatus such as audio or radio frequency spectrum analyzers, noise analyzers, etc. Further, the adjustable-characteristic filters, etc. may be used in many widely different applications.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description of specific embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a panoramic receiver in accordance with the invention, Fig. 1(a) is a detail showing a dispersive network, and Figs. 1(b) and 1(0) are modifications of the receiver of Fig. 1;

Figs. 2, 3 and 3a are graphs explanatory of the operation of the receiver of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates one form of display presentation;

Fig. 5 is a graph explanatory of operation with finite frequency retrace intervals;

Fig. 6 is a modification of the receiver of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 shows signal translation apparatus whose frequency response is controlled by waves in the time domain;

Fig. '8 is a graph explanatory of the operation of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 show illustrative uses of the apparatus of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 illustrates a different arrangement of apparatus of controllable frequency response;

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate two types of operation with the arrangement of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 illustrates a frequency-by-frequency limiter and Figs. 16a and 16b show graphs explanatory thereof;

Fig. 17 illustrates a panoramic receiver in which the frequency band is controlled by the incoming signals, and Fig. 17(a) shows a detail thereof;

Fig. 18 shows graphs explanatory of the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 illustrates a modification of the receiver of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 illustrates a panoramic receiver with provision for analysis of a selected signal;

Fig. 21 is a graph explanatory of the receiver of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 illustrates a modification of the receiver of Fig. 20; and

Fig. 23 is a graph illustrating the use of triple-interlaced sweep frequencies.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a panoramic receiver is shown in which signals picked up by an antenna 11 are supplied to heterodyne mixers 12 and 12 respective channels. A suitable preselector 13 may be employed if desired, such as a broadly-tuned filter passing the entire R.-F. band to be covered, with or without amplification. The mixers are supplied with frequency sweeps from generators 14 and 14'.

Each generator generates a sweep output whose frequency varies repetitively over a selected range and, advantageously, the variation is linear with time followed by a quick return to the initial frequency, in sawtooth form. Such sweep generators are well-kpown. For example, a sawtooth voltage wave generator may be used to control a reactance tube in the tank circuit of an oscillator, or to vary the reflector voltage of a reflex klystron, or to vary the voltage of a backward wave oscillator, etc.

A synchronizing generator 15 controls generators 14 and 14' so that the respective sweep frequency outputs are similar but displaced in time to form a pair of interlaced frequency sweeps. For example, triggered sweep generators can be employed for 14 and 14, and generator 15 arranged to supply triggering pulses alternately thereto. If a sufliciently high sweep repetition frequency is employed, with a correspondingly short sweep period, a single sweep generator whose output is fed directly to one mixer and through a delay line to the other mixer may be used.

The beat frequency outputs of the two mixers are supplied to respective intermediate frequency amplifiers 16, 16' and respective cascaded dispersive networks 17, 17. The outputs of the dispersive networks are supplied to a switch circuit 18 whose switching is controlled by the synchronizing generator 15. A simple single-pole, double throw switch is shown in dotted lines to facilitate understanding, but in practice a suitable electronic switch will commonly be employed. The output of the switch circuit is supplied to a detector 19 and thence to a suitable display device 21.

Before explaining the operation of the receiver of Fig. 1, dispersive networks will be described briefly. Such a network has the property of delaying low frequencies more than high frequencies, or vice versa. If, as in the present case, a signal whose frequency varies linearly with time is applied to the dispersive network, the network can be designed so that all frequencies arrive at the output at substantially the same time. For example, if the input is varying linearly from a low frequency to a high frequency, the dispersive network will be designed to delay the low frequencies more than the high frequencies progressively in a linear manner, so that all arrive substantially simultaneously at the output. If, on the other hand, the input signal is varying from high to low frequencies, the dispersive network will be designed to delay the high frequencies more than the low.

A number of types of dispersive networks are known and one form is illustrated in Fig. 1(a). Here a delay line 22 is fed with an input signal applied at 23, and the line is tapped at a number of successive points 24, 24', etc. corresponding to successively longer delays. Selective filters 25, 25', etc., tuned to pass adjacent narrow frequency bands, are placed in the tapped circuits. The outputs of the filters are connected to a common output line 26.

In practice, the total frequency band F which it is desired to cover may be divided into a number of narrower frequency bands F F etc. To delay low frequencies more than high, filter 25, corresponding to the shortest delay, is arranged to pass the highest frequency subdivision, say F The next filter will pass the next subdivision F and successive filters pass successively lower narrow bands until the entire band F is covered. On the other hand, to delay high frequencies more than low, the order of the filters is reversed.

The delays and narrow frequency bands are selected to correspond to the sweep rate of the applied signal, that is, the time rate of change of frequency. With a suflicient number of taps on the delay line and a corresponding number of filters, a substantially uniformly varying time delay over the entire frequency band F can be obtatined.

Referring now to Fig. 2, this graph illustrates the performance of one of the channels in Fig. 1, say the upper channel. Here the R.-F. band to be covered is between lines 27 and 27. The frequency sweep from generator 14 is shown at 28 and progresses linearly from a lower limit 28 to a higher limit 28 and then returns abruptly to its lower limit, ready for the next sweep. The sawtooth wave has a selected sweep repetition frequency and a corresponding sweep repetition period, the latter denoted T The locally generated frequency sweep may be above 01 below the R.-F. band, as is well understood, and is here shown above. In the mixer 12 the locally generated sweep is heterodyned with an input signal frequency to produce a beat frequency sweep which is the sum or difference of the instantaneous values of the sweep and input frequencies. The difference beat frequency sweep is commonly employed in panoramic receivers, as here shown, but in some applications of the invention the use of the sum may be preferable.

The beat frequency sweeps between sweeps 28 and the highest frequency 27 in the R.-F. band are shown by full lines 29. Similarly, the beat frequency sweeps corresponding to the lowest R.-F. frequency 27' are shown by dash lines 31.

The LP. channel is represented by lines 32, 32 and the corresponding bandwidth is denoted B In this embodiment the I.-F. bandwidth B is made equal to the R.-F. band B which is to be covered. Also, the frequency range of the local oscillator sweep 28 is twice the LP. bandwidth. Consequently, the beat frequency sweep corresponding to a given input signal will lie within the I.-F. band for one-half the sweep repetition period T and is ineffective for the remainder of the period. For example, the beat frequency sweep 29 is outside the I.-F. band during the first half of interval T but within the band during the second half. On the other hand, beat frequency sweeps 31 is Within the I.-F. band during the first half but outside during the second half. All other signals lying within the RF. band B will produce corresponding beat frequency sweeps lying between lines 29 and 31, so that they also will remain within the I.-F. band for only one-half the interval T It will therefore be seen that, due to the sweeping action, the output of the L-F. amplifier 16 for a given R.-F. signal will consist of sweep frequency pulses recurring at the sweep repetition frequency and that, in this embodiment, the pulse durations (denoted T will be one-half the sweep repetition period T In each pulse the frequency is increasing linearly with time.

The output of the I.-F. amplifier 16 is supplied to a dispersive network 17 which delays the low frequencies more than the high. In Fig. 2, the lowest frequency 31 is delayed by the time interval denoted 33 and the highest frequency 31 by the interval 34. By matching the delay dispersion in the dispersive network to the sweep rate of the signal 31, all frequency components within the interval T arrive substantially simultaneously at the output. of the dispersive network, as indicated by the dotted pulse 35. That is, knowing the slope of the beat frequency sweep 31, the dispersive network is designed so that each frequency thereof within the L-F. passband is delayed by the proper amount to cause all frequencies to issue substantially simultaneously.

If the sweeps 28 were inverted, the beat frequency sweeps would likewise be inverted and would progress linearly from high to low frequencies. In such case the dispersive network would be designed to delay the high frequencies more than the low.

Actually in practice, the output pulses from the dispersive network cannot have an infinitesimally short duration. Even with a perfect dispersive network, the minimum duration of the output pulses is limited by the bandwidth of the circuits preceding the network. Assuming that the I.-F. bandwidth is the limiting factor, as is commonly the case, the duration of the output pulses, T will be approximately the reciprocal of the I.-F. bandwidth. The sweep rate and the I.-F. bandwidth determine the length T of the input pulses to the dispersive network. The ratio between the input and output pulses is termed the compression factor.

Since in this embodiment the I.-F. bandwidth is equal to the R.-F. band to be covered, it will normally be quite wide and consequently very short pulses may be obtained from the dispersive network.

By referring the output pulse duration T back to the sweep rate, the corresponding resolution bandwidth can be obtained. This resolution bandwidth is narrower than the I.-F. bandwidth by the compression factor. Thus a high degree of resolution can be obtained even though the I.-F. bandwidth is wide. For example, with a megacycle I.-F. bandwidth and a compression factor of 100, a resolution of one megacycle can be achieved.

These relationships are explained somewhat more fully in my copending application Serial No. 710,210, supra.

Each incoming R.-F. signal produces its corresponding repetitive beat frequency sweeps, and corresponding repetitive output pulses will be obtained from the dispersive network 17. In Fig. 2 pulses 35 and 36 correspond to signals at the bottom and top of the R.-F. band, respectively. Pulses corresponding to all other signals within the R.-F. band B will lie somewhere between pulses 35 and 36, in the shaded area 37. In the embodiment shown, each shaded area 37 covers a time interval which is one-half the sweep repetition period T In the clear areas 38, lying between the shaded areas, no pulse output from the dispersive network 17 will be obtained for signals within the R.-F. band B since these areas correspond to R.-F. frequencies outside this band.

It will be noted that there is a certain overall delay 34 between the highest frequency 31" in the I.-F. band and the corresponding pulse 35 from the dispersive network. As will be apparent from Fig. 1(a), if filter 25 is designed to pass a narrow band of frequencies at the top of the L-F. band and is connected to the input line 23, zero delay can be obtained. However, commonly the dispersive network will be designed to cover a somewhat greater frequency range than the LP. bandwidth so as to assure proper performance for all frequencies in the band. Thus an overall time delay 34 results, in addition to the delay dispersion between the frequency limits of the L-F. band which in this embodiment gives a delay T In a given application, the overall delay 34 can be made quite small if desired.

With the switch circuit 18 in the position indicated in Fig. l, the output of dispersive network 17 is supplied to detector 19 and then to the display device 21. The display can take any desired form. One common type employs a cathode-ray tube with a horizontal time sweep synchronized with the local oscillator sweep, and the received signals deflect the cathode-ray beam in the vertical direction.

Such a display is shown in Fig. 4. The horizontal line 41 represents the horizontal trace which is synchronized with the sweep frequency generator 14. Although the intervals along the trace 41 are fundamentally units of time, they correspond directly to units of frequency because of the synchronization. Consequently, R.-F. signals of different frequency will appear at different points along trace 41. For example, a low frequency signal will result in a pulse "42 at the low end of the scale and a high frequency signal will result in a pulse 43 at the high end of the scale. The pulses on the display tube will ordinarily be somewhat rounded and perhaps somewhat irregular depending upon the receiver characteristics, so that no attempt is made here to reproduce exact shapes.

The width of the pulses 42, 43 is important to the resolution of the receiver. Thus, an adjacent pulse 44 cannot readily be discerned as a separate transmission if it overlaps pulse '42 too much. Inasmuch as the output pulses from the dispersive network may be made quite narrow, as above described, the corresponding pulses on the display of Fig. 4 will be quite narrow, thus providing good resolution.

As is well known, the reproduction of narrow pulses requires adequate bandwidth in the circuits through which they pass Consequently the detector 19, the circuits in display device 21, and any amplifier employed should have adequate bandwidth to reproduce the narrow pulses issuing from the dispersive network 17 The lower channel in Fig. 1 is similar to the upper channel except that the frequency sweeps from generator 14' are interlaced with those from generator 14. Referring to Fig. 3, the frequency sweeps 28 from generator 14 are here shown by dot-dash lines and the frequency sweeps 45 from generator 14' are shown in full lines. It will be observed that sweeps 45 are interlaced with sweeps 28. The R.-F. and LP. bands are the same as in Fig. 2.

The beat frequency sweeps 46 and 47, corresponding to upper and lower R.-F. frequencies 27 and 27, are produced in the manner described in connection with Fig. 2. Corresponding pulses 48 and 49 will appear at the output of the dispersive network 17'. Hence pulses corresponding to all frequencies in the R.-F. band B will occur repetitively in the shaded areas 51.

By comparing Fig. 3 with Fig. 2, it is seen that the beat frequency sweeps in the two channels corresponding to a given input signal are interlaced in time. Thus beat frequency sweeps 29 and 46 corresponding to input signal 27 are interlaced, and sweeps 31 and 47 corresponding to signal 27' are interlaced. The same will be true for all other signals in the R.-F. band B Also, as the beat frequency sweep for a given signal passes out of the LP. passband in the upper channel, the corresponding beat frequency sweep enters the L-F. passband in the lower channel. Thus: the signal passes to the dispersive network in one or the other channel at all times, without time gaps.

It is further seen that the shaded areas 51 in Fig. 3 correspond in time to the clear areas 38 of Fig. 2, and vice versa. Consequently, for a signal of given frequency corresponding output pulses will issue from dispersive networks 17 and 17 alternately. For example, R.-F. signal 27 yields pulses 36 and 48 alternately in the two channels, R.-F. signal 27' yields pulses 35 and 49 alternately in the two channels, etc.

The pulses corresponding to a given input signal will recur at the interlaced sweep repetition frequency which, for double-interlaced sweeps as shown in Fig. 3, Will be twice the repetition frequency of either of the sweeps 28 and 45. The interval between successive pulses in the two channels will be that of the interlaced sweep period. This is the time interval between corresponding portions of successive interlaced sweeps 28 and 45 and hence, for double interlacing, is one-half T The outputs of the two channels are supplied alternately by switch circuit 18 to the detector 19 and display device 21. The switching is controlled by synchronizing generator in synchronism with the interlaced sweeps and with an appropriate time delay so that the upper channel is effective during the shaded intervals 37 in Fig. 2, and the lower channel during shaded intervals 51 in Fig. 3. This is shown in Fig. 3(a), wherein lines 50 represent the intervals switch 18 is in its upper position, connecting the output of the upper channel to the detector 19, and lines 50' represent the intervals the switch is in its lower position, connecting the lower channel to the detector.

Since the times during which the two channels will respond to signals within the R.-F. band B are contiguous, with fast switching corresponding outputs to the display device will be obtained from one or the other channel at all times for all signals. Thus, the receiver is always wide open to the reception of signals throughout the R.-F. band B regardless of when they occur, thus providing continuous coverage. However, the signals may still be separately displayed in accordance with their frequency.

If the display is like that shown in Fig. 4, the time base 41 will repeat at the interlaced sweep repetition frequency. Thus, each video pulse 42-44 will be reproduced alternately by the two channels. Due to the operation of the dispersive networks, each video pulse represents signal information gathered throughout an interlaced sweep period.

In some applications it may be diflicult or impossible to obtain a sufficiently fast frequency retrace for it to be negligible. Fig. 5 explains certain factors involved in such case.

Referring to Fig. 5, the portions of Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating the beat frequency sweeps in the two channels are depicted, except with finite retrace intervals. The I.-F. bands in the two channels are indicated by lines 32, 32' as before.

Considering first channel 1 of Fig. 5, beat frequency sweeps 129 and 131 have the same sweep rate as corresponding beat frequencies 29 and 31 of Fig. 2, but the sweep frequency range is somewhat less due to the retrace intervals 132. Since the effective portion of beat frequency sweep 131 (within the LP. band) is the same as in Fig. 2, corresponding pulses 135 from the dispersive network 17 will be the same as pulses 35 in Fig. 2.

However, the portion of beat frequency sweep 129 within the L-F. band does not reach the upper limit of the band, but begins its retrace at point 129. Consequently, the corresponding pulse 136 from the dispersive network does not represent as wide a range of frequencies as the corresponding pulse 36 in Fig. 2, and will give a somewhat wider video pulse. Also, there will be a short time gap in the reception of the highest frequency signal, represented by the interval 132.

An R.-F. frequency somewhat below the upper limit of Fig. 2 will give a beat frequency sweep, as shown at 133 in Fig. 5, which just reaches the upper limit of the L-F. band before retrace begins. Consequently, the corresponding pulse 134 from the dispersive network 17 will have full resolution.

If it is desired to maintain equal resolution over the entire R.-F. band to be covered, without any time gaps, the R.-F. band can be restricted to a range somewhat narrower than the I.-F. band, so that the highest R.-F. freqency gives a beat frequency sweep which traverses the entire I.-F. band before retrace. In many cases, of course, the decrease in resolution for the highest R.-F. frequencies and the small time gaps in the reception thereof will be unimportant.

Another aspect of finite retracts intervals is that, for a given R.-F. signal, the retrace traverses the I.-F. band at a different time from the sweep. In many cases this will be unimportant since the retrace will commonly be much steeper than the sweep. With the dispersive network matched to the sweep rate, it will not be matched tothe retrace rate and hence will not produce a welldefined pulse at the output of the dispersive network. In general signal energy received in the retrace intervals will be spread out in time, and may often be unobjectionable.

It it is desired to avoid this interference, channel 1 may be gated out ahead of the dispersive network during the retrace intervals 132. For example, pulses 137 may be generated by a blanking pulse generator 138 shown in Fig. 1(b). This generator is shown synchronized by the generator 15 so that the blanking pulses occur in proper phase with the frequency sweeps from generator 14. The blanking pulses may be applied to blank the output of sweep frequency generator 14, or mixer 12, or I.-F. amplifier 16, as indicated.

Instead of restricting the R.-F. band to equalize resolution over the received band and insure continuous coverage, the output of the dispersive network may be gated so that all pulses corresponding to signals of higher frequency than pulse 134 are eliminated. This may be accomplished by generating blanking pulses 139 in the blanking generator 138 of Fig. 1(c) and applying them to gate 140, as indicated.

The lower portion of Fig. 5 representing channel 2 is similar to the upper portion, except that the respective beat frequency sweeps and the pulses from the dispersive network 17' are interlaced with those in channel 1. If blanking pulses 137 and/or 139 are employed in channel 1, corresponding pulses 137 and 139 may be employed in channel 2. These may be developed by the blanking pulse generator 138' in Figs. 1(b) and 1(c), and utilized as described for channel 1.

By comparing upper and lower portions of Fig. 5, it will be apparent that, even with frequency retrace times which are a substantial fraction of the sweep repetition period, and without restricting the R.-F. acceptance band or blanking as above described, the lower and middle R.-F. frequencies are covered continuously, without time gaps, and with equal resolution. Only the highest R.-F. frequencies have time gaps in the response and somewhat lower resolution. The faster the retrace, the shorter such time gaps and the more equal the resolution.

If the local oscillator sweeps 28, 45 in Figs. 2 and 3 were inverted, or if the sweeps shown were tracking below the R.-F. signal, low R.-F. frequencies would be affected by finite retrace times rather than high R.-F. frequencies, as will be understood.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be apparent that if the R.-F. band B were wider than that shown, and other conditions remained the same, the shaded areas 37 and 51 would be longer than one-half the sweep period T and the clear areas 38, 52 correspondingly less. Thus, the shaded areas in the two channels would overlap in time. If both channels were connected to the detector 19 during the overlap intervals, video pulses corresponding to relatively high and relatively low frequency R.-F. signals could exist simultaneously in the detector output, with consequent confusion of signals at the display device.

In Fig. 1 such overlap is prevented by switching the outputs of the channels alternately to the detector, as described. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to limit the incoming R.-F. signals to the band shown in order to prevent overlap, although a preselector 13 could be employed to take care of finite retrace times as above described, or for image frequency rejection or other purposes, if desired.

Instead of switching, overlap of the response intervals in the two channels can be avoided by limiting the bandwidth of the incoming R.-F. signals. In such case a single I.-F. amplifier and dispersive network can be used in common in the two channels. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 6, the preselector 53 has a bandpass characteristic which limits the R.-F. signals fed to mixers 12, 12' to a band not exceeding the width of the frequency band traversed by a frequency sweep 28, 45 (Figs. 2, 3) in an interlaced sweep period. With double interlacing, the interlaced sweep period is /2T In Figs. 2, 3 and 5, this frequency band is equal to the bandwidth of the I.-F. channels. Since the L-F. bandwidth is traversed by a beat frequency sweep in an interlaced sweep period, this insures that the shaded areas in Figs. 2 and 3 will not be longer than an interlaced sweep period. Consequently there will be no overlap in the response of the two channels.

Figs. 2-5 apply also to Fig. 6, and the applicability will be clear by keeping in mind that channel 1, including mixer 12, I.-F. amplifier 16 and dispersive network 17, comprises like-numbered components in both Figs. 1 and 6. Channel 2 in Fig. 1, including 12', 16 and 17, corresponds to mixer 12, amplifier 16 and network 17 in Fig. 6, since the latter two components are in common to the two channels. The blanking described in connection with Fig. 5 may be applied to Fig. 6 in generally the same manner as in Figs. 1(b) and 1(a). However, blanking the I.-F. amplifier 16 in Fig. 6 during retrace intervals will commonly not be desirable since it would be at the interlaced sweep frequency in order to blank out retraces in both channels, and hence the blanking of the retrace in one channel would blank out a portion pulses in the two channels occupy mutually exclusive time intervals due to the input bandwidth restriction.

Other detailed arrangements are possible. For example, in Fig. 1 individual detectors may be placed in the two channels and the outputs combined at the display. In Fig. 6, individual I.-F. amplifiers may be used for the two channels with a common dispersive network. In either figure, similar preselectors can be placed in the two channels, instead of a common preselector, and separate antennas can be employed for the two channels.

Instead of placing the dispersive networks after the I.-F. amplifiers, they may be placed ahead thereof or between stages thereof with similar results. For some applications it may be possible to design the amplifier so that it also produces the required dispersion.

In some cases it may be desired to use the output signals for control purposes, rather than supplying them to a visual display device. In. such case the detector may be appropriately selected for the type of operation required.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, with double interlacing it is preferred to employ an I.-F. bandwidth which is substantially one-half the sweep frequency range of the local oscillators, with very fast retrace. With this relationship the R.-F. band covered is substantially equal to the L-F. bandwidth when fast switching is employed, as in Fig. 1, and only a moderate reduction in R.-F. bandwidth results with the arrangement of Fig. 6. Also, the receiver is wide open to receive signals in any part of the R.-F. band at all times.

While this is preferred, it is possible to depart therefrom where the requirements of a particular application permit. For example, the sweep frequency range may be made less than twice the I.-F. bandwidth and satisfactory operation obtained, although the R.-F. band covered will be reduced. In this case, without input bandwidth limitation, the shaded areas 37 and 51 in Figs. 2 and 3 will be greater than an interlaced sweep period. However, with the switching arrangement of Fig. 1, the effective operation of each channel is confined to an interlaced sweep period, so that low frequency signals from one channel will not interfere with high frequency signals from the other channel. In the arrangement of Fig. 6, operation will also be satisfactory if the preselector filter 53 is made sufiiciently narrow to limit the effective outputs of each channel to alternate time intervals which do not overlap, that is, do not exceed an interlaced sweep period.

Some loss in available resolution may result when the sweep range is less than twice the L-F. bandwidth inasmuch as the full I.-F. bandwidth may not be utilized. For example, if the sweep frequency range is equal to the I.-F. bandwidth in the arrangement of Fig. l, the R.-F. band covered will be one-half that shown in Fig. 2 and the resolution of the pulses out of the dispersive network will correspond to one-half the I.-F. bandwidth. The same will be true of the arrangement of Fig. 6 if the preselector 53 is designed with a bandwidth equal to one-half the I.-F. bandwidth, or somewhat less, to avoid interfering signals in the detector output.

If, on the other hand, the sweep frequency range is more than twice the I.-F. bandwidth, for double interlacing, an R.-F. band can be covered which is correspondingly greater than the I.-F. bandwidth. In such case there may be time gaps in the reception of a signal of given frequency, since the beat frequency sweep for a given signal will pass out of the I.-F. passband of one channel before the corresponding beat frequency sweep in the other channel enters its I.-F. passband.

The R.-F. and I.F. bandwidths, the sweep range and other parameters may be correlated to meet the requirements of a particular application. Generally, in order to avoid time gaps in the reception of individual signal frequencies, it is desirable to make the bandwidth of the circuits between each mixer and the dispersive network,

11 and the bandwidth of the dispersive network itself, at least as wide as the width of the frequency band traversed by a frequency sweep in an interlaced sweep period. Then, switching of channels at the interlaced sweep repetition frequency in general suffices to avoid interference between channels. If an input filter is employed to avoid such interference, its bandwidth should in general not exceed the frequency band just specified.

For maximum resolution with a given I.-F. bandwidth, without time gaps, in general the sweep rate should be selected so that the sweep traverses approximately the full I.-F. bandwidth in an interlaced sweep period. This same relationship will also, in general, give maximum R.-F. band coverage without time gaps.

Although an I.-F. amplifier will commonly be employed in each channel, or in common with the channels, to obtain adequate gain, in some cases they may be omitted if desired.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the frequency response can be varied by control waves in the time domain. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 that in each channel input signals of different frequency are converted into corresponding pulses spaced in time in accordance with the signal frequencies. That is, in each channel frequency domain relationships are transformed into time domain relationships. In accordance with the present invention, these time domain relationships can be reconverted into frequency domain relationships. When this is done, it is then possible to change or alter the frequency domain relationships by operations performed in the time domain.

Referring to Fig. 7, a signal translation device is shown having two channels each including a mixer, L-F. amplifier, dispersive network and sweep frequency generator, and a synchronizing generator 15 is employed to maintain the interlaced relationship. These components function in the same manner as in Fig. 1, and bear like numbers. The graphs in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 also apply in the same manner, and the description thereof need not be repeated. Blanking of sweep frequency generators 14, 14, or mixers 12, 12, or I.-F. amplifiers 16, 16 during finite retrace intervals may be obtained by generating blanking pulses 137, 137 (Fig. 5) with blanking pulse generators as described in connection with Fig. 1(b).

In each channel the output of the dispersive network is supplied through a gain-controlled amplifier 55, 55 to an inverse dispersive network 56, 56. If it is desired to gate the outputs of the dispersive networks as de scribed in connection with Fig. 1(c), the gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55' can be used as gates, with gate pulses 139, 139' (Fig. 5) supplied thereto either from blanking pulse generators 138, 138' as in Fig. 1(0), or from the control wave generator 77.

The inverse dispersive network has a delay dispersion complementary to that of the dispersive network, and functions to receive input pulses from the dispersive network and transform them into corresponding frequency sweeps similar to those originally supplied to the dispersive network. The operation of converting an input frequency sweep extending over an interval of time T into a much shorter output pulse of duration T has already been described. If the frequency sweep varies from low to high frequencies, the low frequencies are delayed more than the high. It will be recognized that the short output pulses contain all the frequency components of the input, but they occur substantially simultaneously rather than being spread out in time. If, now, a similar network is designed which delays the high frequencies more than the low, and is supplied with the short pulses, the frequencies in each pulse will be spread out in time and the resulting output of the inverse dispersive network will be substantially the same as the original input to the dispersive network. In the type of network shown in Fig. 1(a), the inverse dispersive network may be obtained by reversing the order of the narrow band filters F F etc.

Returning to Fig. 7, and disregarding the gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55' for the moment, the outputs of the inverse dispersive networks 56, 56' will be substantially the same as the inputs to dispersive networks 17, 17 and these outputs are supplied to respective heterodyne mixers 57, 57. The original sweep frequencies from generators 14, 14 are supplied through respective delay lines 53, 58 to the mixers. With proper selection of the delays, the combined output of mixers 57, 57' in the output line 59 will be substantial replicas of the input signals in line 61.

Instead of feeding the original sweeps through delay lines to mixers 57, 57, a pair of additional sweep frequency generators similar to 14, 14 and synchronized by generator 15 in proper phase to produce the delayed sweeps may be employed.

Before considering the efiect of the gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55, Fig. 8 will be described so that the operation of the circuit will be clear. Assume that there are several input signals 62-66 coming in line 61 in Fig. 7. These are here assumed to be in the R.-F. frequency range, but, as will be referred to later, they can be in other ranges in particular applications. Sweep frequency 28 is produced by generator 14 in the upper channel, and sweep frequency 45 by generator 14' in the lower channel, and correspond to those shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Line 45 is shown dashed and corresponding signals in the other portions of the apparatus are shown dashed to indicate that they are produced in the lower channel of Fig. 7.

Each input signal produces a corresponding beat frequency sweep 62-66 in the upper channel, as described before. The portions of the input signals shown by dash lines produce corresponding beat frequency sweeps 62"66" in the lower channel. Subsequent portions of the input signals produce heat frequencies in the upper and lower channels alternately, as will be understood.

Upon passing through the dispersive networks 17, 17, corresponding output pulses 67-71 will be obtained in the upper channel, and pulses 67'-71' in the lower channel. As here shown, input signals 62 and 66 have a frequency difference equal to the I.-F. bandwidth so that beat frequency sweeps 66' and 62" occur simultaneously and corresponding pulses 71 and 67' occur simultaneously. If the input signal bandwidth is slightly less than the I.-F. bandwidth, there will be a slight separation in time between the beat frequency sweeps and pulses just named.

A large overall delay between the frequency sweep inputs to the dispersive networks and the pulse outputs therefrom is here assumed, as shown by the time interval between, say, the end of beat frequency sweep 62 and the corresponding pulse 67, so that the pulse pattern will not overlay the beat frequency sweep pattern and become confusing. In actual practice, much shorter delays will ordinarily be employed, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Assuming for the moment that the gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55 provide uniform gain at all times, the pulses will be supplied to the inverse dispersive networks 56, 56' and their frequencies spread out in time. Thus, pulse 67 at the input of inverse dispersive network 56 will produce a corresponding frequency sweep 72 at the output thereof. Succeeding pulses 6871 will produce corresponding frequency sweeps 73-76 in the upper channel. In the lower channel pulses 6-7'-71 will produce corresponding frequency sweeps 7276. If the delay dispersion is the same but of opposite slope in the dispersive and inverse dispersive networks, that is, complementary, the frequency sweeps 72-76 and 72'76' will be substantial replicas of the initial beat frequency sweeps 6-2'46, 62"66. Here again, the overall delay between the input and output of each inverse dis- 13 persive network is shown comparatively large to avoid confusion in the drawing, but in practice will ordinarily be relatively small.

As pointed out in describing Fig. 7, the initial frequency sweeps are supplied through delay lines 58, 58' to the mixers 57, 57' along with the outputs of the inverse dispersive networks. In Fig. 8 the delayed sweeps are shown at 28 and 45. The delay is here selected so that the beat frequencies between the delayed sweeps 28', 45 and the signals 72-76, 7276' will correspond to the initial input signal frequencies, respectively, indicated by lines 72"76". As shown, the delayed sweep 28' starts at the same time as sweep 72 so that the difference frequency 72" in the output of mixer 57 is the same as the initial input signal 62. Subsequent sweeps 73-76 in the upper channel will beat with the sweep frequency 28 to give the portions of output signals 73"76 shown in full lines. Immediately thereafter, corresponding sweeps 72'-76' will beat with the delayed sweep 45' in the lower channel to give the dashed portions of corresponding output signals.

It will therefore be apparent that the output signals in line 59 of Fig. 7 will be substantial replicas of the input signals in line 61, but somewhat delayed in time depending upon the total delays in the two channels.

Considering now the effect of the gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55, it will be observed that the pulses 67-71 occur successively in time, but the pulses correspond to different input signal frequencies. The energy of the pulses cannot be shown in Fig. 8, since it is a frequency-time graph, but it will be understood that the energy in each pulse will correspond to the energy in the corresponding input signal frequency. If, then, the gain of amplifier 55 is changed, the energy in the output signals in line 59 will be changed.

Accordingly, a control wave source, shown as generator 77 in Fig. 7, is provided to alter the gain of amplifier 55 as a function of time. This produces corresponding changes in the amplitude of different frequency components in the output line 59. The control wave generator 77 is synchronized by generator 15 and phased so that the control waves therefrom are delayed with respect to the sweep frequency oscillator 14 and alter the gain of amplifier 55 synchronously with the occurrence of pulses at the output of dispersive network 17. Similarly, control wave generator 77 controls the gain of amplifier 55' in the lower channel, and the control waves to the two channels will alternate at the interlaced sweep repetition frequency.

For example, suppose that it is desired to eliminate all signals except that corresponding to input signal 63 in Fig. 8. Control wave generator 77 will then be designed to cut off amplifier 55 at all times except during the in terval when pulse 68 (corresponding to input signal 63) issues from dispersive network 17, and during corresponding intervals in subsequent sweeps. Such a control wave is shown at 78 in Fig. 8. Pulse 79 is in effect a gating pulse which allows amplifier 55 to pass signal pulse 68 to the inverse dispersive network 56, but cuts off the amplifier during the remainder of the cycle. A subsequent pulse 79' occurring one cycle later again opens the upper channel to a pulse corresponding to the same input signal 63.

In the lower channel, a similar control wave 78' is supplied to amplifier 55', but the pulses are interlaced with those in 78 so that the same input signal frequency 63 is allowed to pass through the lower channel.

As pointed out before, many forms of control waves whose amplitude varies with time can readily be produced by apparatus known in the art. Generator 77 may be designed to produce any desired waveform to produce a corresponding change in the frequencies allowed to pass through to the output line 59.

Fig. 9 gives another example of such control. Fig. 9(a) represents the overall frequency passband 80 of the circuit. Fig. 9(b) shows a control waveform whose amplitude varies with time during an interlaced sweep period. At 81 a passing pulse is shown which allows a low frequency band of signals to pass to output line 59, as indicated at 81' in Fig. 9(0). The control Wave is then reduced to Zero at 82 to cut off amplifier 55. Consequently, the frequencies corresponding to this time interval are prevented from passing, as shown at 82'. Another passing portion 83 allows a middle band of frequencies 83 to pass. Then the control wave changes to a Value 84 which reduces the gain of amplifier 55 but does not cut it ofi. Consequently, the amplitude of the signal frequencies corresponding to this time interval are reduced as shown at 84'. The control wave then returns to full amplitude 85 to pass the remaining higher frequencies as shown at 85'.

p A control wave like that shown in 9(b) but delayed in time by /2 T is supplied to the lower channel amplifier 55' during the next interlaced sweep period so that the frequencies in the lower channel will be altered in the same manner as those in the upper channel.

Fig. 10 shows another example in which the control wave generator 77 supplies a repetitive passing pulse 86 whose time occurrence can be varied in either direction at the will of the operator. Suitable variable pulse-gating circuits are well-known in the art. By changing the time occurrence of pulse 86 in the interlaced sweep periods, a different band of frequencies can be allowed to pass through to output line 59, as shown at 86'.

It will therefore be seen that the arrangement of Fig. 7 enables the frequency passband characteristic to be changed in any desired manner by the application of suitable amplitude-time control waveforms so that a wide variety of passband characteristics can readily be obtained. Furthermore, the passband characteristic can be changed quickly by merely changing the control waveform.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7, as in previous embodiments, suitable precautions should be taken to prevent signals from the two channels from interfering in the output line 59. An input filter can be introduced in the input line 61 as described in connection with Fig. 6, or the two channels may be rendered effective alternately by gating or switching circuits.

Gate or switch circuits can be introduced between dispersive and inverse dispersive networks 17, 56 and 17', 56' and controlled by suitable waves synchronized by generator 15. However, since gain-controlled amplifiers 55, 55 are already present, they may be employed for this function. Thus, the control waves from generator 77 to the amplifiers 55, 55 may be arranged to cut otf each channel during alternate interlaced sweep periods.

On the other hand, if a filter is employed to restrict the input signal bandwidth, in some cases identical control waves recurring at the interlaced sweep repetition frequency may be applied to amplifiers 55, 55', since pulses will be supplied to each amplifier from the corresponding dispersive network only during alternate interlaced sweep periods.

It will be understood that amplifiers 55, 55' may be designed to provide normal gains greater or less than unity, as desired, since it is the change of gain which is employed for control purposes.

As in the case of Fig. l, the arrangement of Fig. 7 can be modified to employ a number of components in common in the two channels. One such arrangement is shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to Fig. 11, I.-F. amplifier 16, dispersive and inverse dispersive networks 17, 56 and gain-controlled amplifier 55 are employed in common in the two channels. One channel includes the common elements and mixers 12 and 57. The other channel includes the com mon elements and mixers 12' and 57'. The preselector 53 has a passband which restricts the bandwidth of the incoming signals so that the output pulses from disper- 

